September Mini - and Other Things

 

Just under the wire ...

This little quilt is another “Frankenstein” meaning it’s composed of leftovers, reject blocks, and various odds and ends. (remember, Frankenstein wasn't a bad monster - just misunderstood.) Some of these are rejects from my Summer Sampler, and I dug others out of my “spare parts” box. I think they ended up playing together nicely.

It was initially intended to be my July mini, but I deliberated for weeks on my border fabric, to the point where I became practically paralyzed and I had to put it away and move on to something else. I finally settled on this Cocheco Mills piece which I’d been hoarding for years, which was not much bigger than a scrap. There was barely enough, and then I mis-cut one side and had to stitch it back together, leaving a nice Frankenstein scar down one side. Barely visible, but still. 

(is it just me, or is there something weird about these photos? not blurry - which is my usual - the details are crisp but there's something unreal about them. The one below practically vibrates!)

I did not deliberate long on the back. This is another old print I’ve hoarded for a long time. I’ve lately been using more and more of these “special pieces” for small quilt backs, because I know they will be appreciated and enjoyed with the rest of the quilt. 

I thought it would be nice to hand quilt this, possibly because I was too lazy to haul out my big Janome with the hand-quilt stitch, and clear off the dining room table to set it up. Marking the fans was an unanticipated issue. The Sewline white worked fine in the darker places, and a lead pencil was ok on the light fabrics, but the constant switching back and forth between the two did not make for a smooth line. I know from experience yellow chalk could stain the whites, and I don’t trust those blue things.  

I thought about free-handing it, but I had too hard a time seeing my previous line of quilting! Problem ultimately solved by marking said line with 1/4” masking tape. This was not a relaxing process, so it went very slowly. By the time I finished, it was the end of September. Anyway, here it is! Be sure and follow the link to Wendy's blog to see more of this month’s mini’s.

I also finished my Summer Sampler, making for two finishes this month!

Those things that look like bleach spots are actually sun rays coming through the trees.

Thank you to everyone who followed this process and encouraged me along the way.  

The back is another piece I've been hanging on to for several years, waiting  for just the right quilt.

 

Meanwhile, this top was still nagging me. I felt it needed something more.

A single row of triangle squares across the top and bottom I think will do the trick.

love,           

Sandy